Florida Keys, Aquarius Habitat

The Living Oceans Foundation conducts work at the Florida Keys Aquarius Habitat, an underwater laboratory located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Aquarius is one of the few underwater facilities in the world dedicated to scientific research. Owned by the United States National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Aquarius is operated by Florida International University. The Aquarius program allows scientists to live and work 63 feet below the surface on missions lasting up to 10 days. The scientists living in Aquarius, called “Aquanauts”, can spend more time safely conducting research on the seafloor than would be possible through surface-based diving.

In November 2007, we conducted six live “underwater classrooms” at Aquarius as part of Project SeaCAMEL (Classroom Aquarius Marine Education Live).

Living underwater and working submerged poses unique engineering challenges, similar to visiting outer space. Indeed, there is enough similarity between missions to the International Space Station and living in an underwater habitat, that NASA astronauts train at Aquarius. This module …

Recorded ‘as live’ a film with Drs. Hagan and Patterson, Capt. Renaud and award-winning filmmaker and cameraman D.J. Roller will venture outside Aquarius after the sun sets to see how the reef changes at night. Mr. Roller will have a …

Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation

The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of living oceans and pledges to champion their preservation through research, education and a commitment to Science Without Borders.®